Buttonhole device of a zigazag sewing machine



BUTTONHOLE DEVICE OF A ZIGZAG SEWING MACHINE Filed Oct. 31, 1961 Se t.15, 1964 smer-zo AIKI ETAL 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR5 J/-// 650 A//(/BEA/.77 K0/ K6 BY .7

ATTOENE'Y BUTTONHOLE DEVICE OF A ZIGZAG SEWING MACHINE Filed Oct. 51.1961 Se t. 15, 1964 smeso AIKI ETAL 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 l5 7 M? w TAW f N aK W In A Se t. 15, 1964 SHIGEO AIKI ETAL 3,148,645

BUTTONHOLE DEVICE OF A ZIGZAG SEWING MACHINE Filed Oct. 31, 1961 4Sheets-Sheet 3 12 61 il y. 0. F5 7.

p 15, 1954 SHIGEO AIKI ETAL 3,148,645

BUTTONHOLE DEVICE OF A ZIGZAG SEWING MACHINE Filed Oct. 31, 1961 4Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTORS 6777650 A//( United States Patent 3,148,645BUTTQNHULE DEVICE OF A ZIGZAG SEWING MACHINE Shigeo Aiki, Oaza Kitazaki,Ohbu-machi, Chita-gun, Archiken, and Renji Koike, Sarunage-machi,Nishikamo-gun, Aichi-ken, Japan, assignors to Aichi Kogyo KabushikiKaisha, Aichi-ken, Japan, a corporation of Japan Filed Oct. 31, 1961,Ser. No. 149,052 Claims priority, application Japan, Nov. 11, 1960, 35/44,425 3 Claims. (Cl. 112-458) This invention relates to a buttonholedevice of a zigzag sewing machine. More particularly it relates to adevice which is characterized in that in the operation thereof thestitching of several bartack stitches at an end of a buttonhole isfollowed by the automatic stitching along one side of the buttonhole,and then, by suitable manipulation of a knob, stitching of severalbartack stitches at the other end of the buttonhole is effected.Stitching along the opposite side of the buttonhole is controlled bymeans of a ratchet mechanism driven by the main shaft of the device anda cam mechanism actuated intermittently with said ratchet mechanism.

Automatic buttonhole sewing machines having complete cycle control arewell known in the industrial sewing machine field. In these machines,however, it is not easy to change the length of the button hole. On theother hand, home use sewing machines are well known which have foursetting positions-first: one end bar tack; second: one side row; third:the other end bar tack; fourth: the other side row-to complete a buttonhole. In the present invention, by setting the machine to the firstposition, the machine sews a predetermined number of bar tack stitchesat one end of a buttonhole before the machine is set automatically tosew a side row of stitches of the buttonhole. By setting at the secondposition, the machine sews bar tack stitches at the other end and theother side row to complete a button hole.

It is an object of the invention to provide a buttonhole device of thistype which is not only simple in construction and operation but alsodurably is constructed.

Another object of the invention is to provide a buttonhole device ofthis type which has a mechanism that is reliable and smooth inoperation.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a buttonhole devicebuilt in a zigzag sewing machine which makes a desired length ofbuttonhole by two steps of operation.

A still further object of this invention is to provide a novel, simplemechanism for adjusting both the width of the zigzag stitches and thearea of the zigzag stitches simultaneously.

With the above and other objects and advantages in view as willhereinafter appear, this invention comprises the devices, combinationand arrangement of parts hereinafter described and illustrated in theaccompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating the apparatus of theinvention;

FIG. 2 is a side view in longitudinal section of the fixed regulatingshaft part;

FIG. 3 is an elevation on an enlarged scale illustrating the relation ofthe ratchet wheel and the recessed disk;

FIG. 4 is an elevation on anenlarged scale of the annular groove 54;

FIGS. 5 to 9 are drawings for describing the relative positions of therespective control parts by the type of stitching being done; and

FIGS. to 12 illustrate the varied stitch patterns which are obtainablewhen the manually operated stitch width adjusting knob 21 ismanipulated.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, a main shaft 1 is journaledin the machine frame and is rotated at a constant speed by means of asuitable prime mover to which is secured a worm 2. A regulating shaft 3having one end secured to the frame A has a worm wheel 4 journaledthereto and in engagement with the aforesaid worm 2. At one side of theworm wheel 4 and constituted integrally therewith there is provided acam plate 5 for zigzag stitching having a plurality of equally spacedcam portions 5A around its circumference. Pivoted to the frame A bymeans of a pin 7 is a grooved member 6 (FIG. 1) which has an arm 8extending therefrom. To the tip of the arm 8 with a pin 9 that is atright angles to the pin '7 the base of a rocker arm 10 is pivoted. Thedistal end of rocker arm 10 not only has formed on its underside steppedcam follower faces 11 and 12 but also has secured to its side a contactfinger 13. The contact finger 13 is constantly urged against ahereinafter-mentioned recessed disk 26 by means of a spring 14 fitted toan arm 10A of the rocker arm 10. Numeral 15 designates the spring thatexerts a pull on the grooved member 6, while numeral 16 designates thestopper that determines the lower limit to which the rocker arm 10 canmove. A pitman 17 which at its extremity is coupled to a needlebar arm(not shown) is pivotally secured to a square piece 18 by means of a pin19. The rear end of pitrnan 17 is connected by a link 20 to an arm 22 ofa stitch width adjusting knob 21. Hence, by turning adjusting knob 21 itbecomes possible to sew with either regular stitches or zigzag stitches.By effecting selectively the slidable contact of either one of the camfollower faces 11 or 12 with the cam portions 5A of the zigzag stitchingcam plate 5, the base line of sewing of the zigzag stitches is therebychanged.

In FIGS. 1 and 2, the periphery of a sleeve shaft 23 which is journaledto the fixed regulating shaft 3 in the vicinity of its idle end ispivotally supported in the frame A. To one end of the sleeve shaft 23 issecured a cam collar 24 consisting of a disk-like cam plate 25, arecessed disk 26 and a drum portion 27 connecting the foregoing camplate 25 and recessed disk 26. As shown in FIG. S-IV, the periphery ofthe cam plate 25 is provided with cam portions 25A25B for reducing thewidth of the stitch to one half. When cam portions 25A-25B butt againstthe cam follower faces 1101' 12 of the rocker arm 10, as shown in FIGS.2 as well as FIGS. 7-V and 9-V, the oscillatory angle of the rocker arm10 is reduced to about one half, thus reducing the width of the zigzagstitches to about one half. On the other hand, on the inner side surfaceof the recessed disk 26 a cam protuberance 28 is provided which, when itbutts against the contact finger 13, moves the rocker arm 10 laterallyto the left, thereby causing the cam follower face 12 to slidablycontact the cam portions 5A and thus change the base line of sewing. Thedrum portion 27 is provided on its periphery, as shown in FIG. 5-IV,with a work-reversing cam 29 and on both sides thereof with work feedstopping cams 29A29B. When the end of lever 30 which is pivoted togetherwith the grooved member 6 on the aforementioned pin 7 rides cams29A-29B, a rocking piece 35 with the intervention of an arm 31 of thelever, and successively .a link rod 32, a crank 33, and a link rod 34are turned whereby the feed of the work is reversed or stopped. As tothe make-up of the recessed disk 26, it is as follows:

On the sleeve shaft 23 adjacent to the recessed disk 26 are journaled aratchet wheel 36 and a rocker plate 37. The ratchet wheel 36, as shownin FIG. 3, has incised therein three deep notches 36B arranged atequidistant points around the disk fine equidistantly disposed shallownotches 36A and located in between each of the pair of adjacentlylocated deep notches 368. On the other hand, in the recessed disk 26, asshown in FIG. 3, are provided two deep notches 26A and 2613 which are ofa shape identical to that of the deep notches 36B and which both on oneof the sides thereof join respectively shallow recesses 38A and 38B,whose depth to the bottom of the recesses is slightly deeper than thatof the shallow notches 36A of the ratchet wheel 36. The circumference26C of the recessed disk 26 is somewhat larger than the circumference36C of the ratchet wheel 36. Pivoted to the tip of an arm 37A of therocker plate 37 by means of a pin 40 is a pawl 39 which engages withthese notches 26A, 2613, 36A and 36B, the engagement being insured by aspring 41. The rocker plate 37 is oscillated with the intervention of alever 43 that is oscillated by a cam member 42 of the main shaft 1 and alink 44 connected to said lever 43, whereby the pawl 39 makes constantreciprocatory movements within fixed limits (angle of FIG. 3) equal toone pitch of the notches 36A and 36B of the ratchet wheel 36. 45 is theshaft of the lever 43 and is pivotally secured to the frame of thesewing machine; 46 is the spring for maintaining the contact of the camfollower 43A and the cam member 42; and 47 is a leaf spring which beingengaged with the notches of the ratchet wheel 36 prevents itsuncontrolled movements.

Next, the rotation of the recessed disk 26, i.e., as to how the camcollar 24 is rotated by the ratchet wheel 36 and the pawl 39, will bedescribed. As already described, since the circumference 26C of therecessed disk 26 is slightly greater than the circumference 36C of theratchet wheel 36, when the recessed disk 26 is rotated manually and isso positioned that its large diameter portion is placed opposite (9portion, the pawl 39 merely slides over the circumference 26C, andneither the ratchet wheel 36 nor the recessed disk 26 is rotated.However, if the recessed disk 26 is moved manually and positioned sothat, as shown in FIG. 3, the shallow recess 38A (or 38B) is oppositethe angle 0 portion, the pawl 39 becomes engaged with the shallow notch36A of the ratchet wheel 36, and the ratchet wheel 36 is rotatedintermittently in the direction of arrow D by each reciprocation of thepawl 39. The recessed disk 26, however, does not rotate and thus neitherdoes the cam collar 24. When, upon continuance of the rotation of theratchet wheel 36, one of its deep notches 36B coincides with the deepnotch 26A (or 26B) of the recessed disk 26 directly under the regulatingshaft 3, the pawl 39 engages both notches simultaneously whereby withthe subsequent movement of the pawl 39 in the D direction, the recesseddisk 26 is rotated together with the ratchet wheel 36 in the D directionfor a distance of just the angle 6. Even though the pawl 39 then movesin a direction opposite to the D direction, since the pawl 39 rides idlyover the large diameter portion 26C that adjoins the deep notch 26A (or2613), the recessed disk 26 as well as the ratchet wheel 36 remain intheir estopped positions.

In FIGS. 1 and 2, the sleeve shaft 23 at its outer end has a flange 48whose inner surface slidably contacts the outer surface of the frame A.On the other hand, the outer surface of this flange 48 is in slidablecontact with a knob 50 that is mounted at the outer end of the fixedregulating shaft 3 as to be freely rotatable or slidable, the knob 50being constantly urged against the flange 48 by means of a spring 49mounted between a stopper 51 and the outer surface of said knob tProjecting from the inner surface of the knob 50 is a pin 52 whichextends through an arcuate slot 53 in flange 48 and fits in an annulargroove 54 provided in the frame A. The arcuate slot 53 as shown in FIG.3, has a length that is sufficiently greater than that covered by theangle 6. In the bottom of the annular groove 54 are provided three stopholes 55A, 55B and 55C, as shown in FIG. 4, for stopping the pin 52, theface of the knob 50 being marked with indicia M, B and B which with afixed pointer 56 indicate the particular hole in which the pin 52happens to be. By pulling out the knob 50 against the pressure of thespring 49, thus pulling the tip of the pin 52 out of either stop hole55A or 558, and then turning the knob in the D direction while releasingthe outward pull on the knob 50, the pin being urged by the spring 49readily falls into either of the adjacent stop holes 55B or 550. In theannular groove 54 contiguous to the stop hole 550 a small partition wall54A is provided for insuring the precise fit of the pin 52 in the stophole 55C. If the knob 50 is pulled out sufficiently great enough as toenable the pin 52 to hurdle the small partitioning wall 54A, the knob 50can then be continued to be turned in the D direction. It is to be notedthat the pin 52 in being turned butts against the end of the arcuateslot 53, thereby rotating the flange 48 and the cam collar 24 that iscoupled thereto.

While referring to FIGS. 5-9 the operation of the device of theinvention will be described hereinafter.

When by manually turning the knob 50 in the D direction and the mark Mis made to coincide with the pointer 56, as shown in FIG. 5-H, the pin52 of the knob 50, as described hereinbefore, butts against the end ofthe arcuate slot 53 in the pins rotating direction and turns the flange48 and the cam collar coupled thereto. Hence the cam plate 25, the drumportion 27 and the recessed dish that are all integral with the camcollar 24 rotate together. The ratchet wheel 36 however does not turn,as it is prevented from uncontrolled movements by the leaf spring 47.Moreover, one of its deep notches 36B, due to its mechanics, remainsstopped, as shown in FIG. S-III, in the zone of the angle 0 at that endin the D direction. On the other hand, when the knob 50 is in this Mposition, with the pawl 39 riding idly over the large circumferenceportion 26C of the resessed disk 26, the cam follower face 11 of therocker arm 10 that rides the cam plate 5 for accomplishing zigzagstitchings being actuated by its cam. portions 5A, and the lever 30being disengaged from the work-reversing cam 29, it is possible toperform the regular zigzag stitchings, its stitch width being adjustableby means of the hereinbefore-described stitch width adjusting knob 21.

For accomplishing the stitching of a buttonhole the needle is positionedat one end of a buttonhole 60 and the knob 5t is turned in the Ddirection until the B mark, as shown in FIG. 6, comes opposite thepointer 56, whereupon while the ratchet wheel 36 remains immobile thecam collar 24 above is rotated a little, and its shallow recess 38Acoincides with the reciprocatory zone of the pawl 39 within the ange 6.Then when the sewing machine is operated, the ratchet wheel 36 isrotated, and while the feed of the work is in practically a standstillstate the bartack stitching 61 is started as shown in FIG. 6-1. When theprescribed number of stitches are completed, and one of the deep notches36B of the ratchet wheel conicides with the deep notch 26A, as alreadydescribed hereinbefore, the cam collar 24 is rotated together with theratchet wheel 36 through just the angle 6 as shown in FIG. 7-H, and withthe pawl 39 retracting idly the cam collar 24 and the ratchet wheel 36remain in their estopped state.

By the rotation of the cam collar 24 through just the angle 0 the lever30 rides the cam 29 (FIG. 7-IV), the cam protuberance 28 butts againstthe contact finger 13 (FIG. 7-V) thereby to bring in contact the camfollower face 12 of the rocker arm 10 with the cam plate 5 thus shiftingthe base line of sewing, and simultaneously the stitch width is reducedby means of the cam portions 25A of the cam plate 25. Hence, the sidestitches that follow the bartack stitches are automatically begun andare continued.

Upon reaching the other end of the button hole after having completedthe side stitchings on one side, the knob 50 is manually turned again inthe D direction, and the mark B thereon is set opposite the pointer 56(FIG. 8-1).

Thereupon, the shallow recess 38B coincides with the reciprocatory zoneof the pawl 39 within the angle 6 (FIG. 8-111), the lever 30 leaves thework-reversing cam 29 (FIG. 8-IV), and also with the rocker arm beingplaced under the same condition as in FIG. 7, bartack stitchings 63 of acompletely identical number of stitches as bartack stitchings 61 areaccomplished, and at the point of their completion, with the deepnotches 26B and 36B coming in alinement, the cam collar is moved throughjust the angle 0, following which the pawl 39 retracts idly and thestate as shown in FIG. 9 results. In this state side stitchings 64 arebegun with the feed of work continuing in the normal direction (FIG.9IV), and the stitch width is reduced without however changing the baseline of sewing (FIG. 9-V). And upon stopping the sewing machine afterthe side stitching has been completed by having reached the bartackstitchings 61, the stitching of the buttonhole is completed.

Thus, since according to the device of the invention buttonholestitching is accomplished by means of a ratchet mechanism that is drivenby the main shaft 1 and a cam mechanism associated therewith andactuated thereby, the objects of the invention have been achieved inthat a device simple in construction and reliable and smooth inoperation is provided.

Additionally, if the manually operated stitch width adjusting knob 21 ismanipulated in the state as shown in FIG. 5, a pattern stitching 65 asshown in FIG. 10 can be performed; likewise, if similarly manipulated inthe state as in FIG. 7 a pattern stitching 66 as shown in FIG. 11 isobtained; and similarly in the state as in FIG. 9 a pattern stitching 67as shown in FIG. 12 is possible.

Having thus set forth the nature of the invention, what we claim hereinis:

1. A button hole device for a zigzag sewing machine having a frame andmain shaft journaled in said frame, comprising a shaft secured to saidframe, a ratchet wheel rotatably mounted on said shaft and having aplurality of deep notches and a plurality of shallow notches, a recesseddisk disposed adjacent to said ratchet wheel on said shaft and having aportion of larger periphery than said ratchet wheel and having at leasttwo sets of shallow recesses and deep notches, a ratchet pawl oscillablymounted in said frame engaging both said ratchet wheel and said disk,manually operable means connected with said disk for rotating thelatter, unitary control means on said shaft integrally connected withsaid disk for rotation and including cams for controlling the zigzagstitch width, stitching area, and direction of work feed, theabovementioned elements being operatively connected so that when saidpawl engages a shallow notch of said ratchet wheel said ratchet wheel isrotated while said disk remains stationary until said pawl comes toengage a deep notch of said ratchet wheel, at this point said pawl alsoengages a deep notch of said disk to rotate the latter, and so that saidpawl subsequently is disengaged by contact with the large peripheryportion of said disk whereby said pawl ceases torotate said disk andsaid ratchet wheeL' 2. A buttonhole device for zigzag sewing machineshaving a frame and a main shaft journaled in said frame, comprising acam shaft mounted on said frame, a unitary control means rotatablymounted on said cam shaft and having cams for controlling the zigzagstitch width, stitch area and work feed, said unitary control meansbeing provided with at least four positions including first and fourthpositions for sewing 'oar tack stitches at the ends of a button hole andincluding second and third positions for sewing side row stitches,manually operable means mounted on said frame and connected with saidunitary control means for turning the former to set the latter to thefirst and third of said four positions, a pawl, means connecting saidpawl with said main shaft for rocking the former in timed relation withthe latter, a disk mounted on said cam shaft and connected with saidunitary control means for rotation therewith, said disk having notchesengageable with said pawl to be advanced from the first to the secondand/ or from the third to the fourth of said four positions, said diskhaving enlarged portions at corresponding positions to the second andthe fourth of said four positions where said pawl rocks withoutadvancing said disk and therefore the machine continues to sew eitherside row.

3. A buttonhole device for a zigzag sewing machine having a frame and amain shaft journaled in said frame, comprising a cam shaft mounted insaid frame, a cam on said cam shaft rotatably driven in timedrelationship with said main shaft, said cam having lofts spaced byvalleys on its periphery, a cam follower mounted on said frame, said camfollower having two engaging heads of different heights, means biasingsaid engaging heads of said cam follower towards said cam periphery,said cam follower being adapted for radial movement to and from said camand for shiftable movement axially of said cam shaft, stop means fixedon said frame for limiting radial movement of said cam follower towardssaid cam, shiftable stop means disposed adjacent to said cam, means toshift said cam follower axially of said cam shaft between a first and asecond position, the higher of said engaging heads of said cam followerbeing engageable in said first position by said cam to impart fulloscillating movement of said cam follower and by both said cam and saidshiftable stop means to impart a limited amplitude of oscillatingmovement of said cam follower at one side, and the other of saidengaging heads of said cam follower being engageable in said secondposition by said cam to impart a limited amplitude of oscillatingmovement of said cam follower at the other side by cooperating action ofsaid fixed stop means.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS1,033,721 Miller July 23, 1912 1,675,508 Muller July 3, 1928 2,684,649Scarpa July 27, 1954 3,034,461 Urscheler May 15, 1962 3,035,534 HamlettMay 22, 1962 3,060,875 lida Oct. 30, 1962 FOREIGN PATENTS 199,978Austria Oct. 10, 1958 1,038,887 Germany Sept. 11, 1958 1,113,126 GermanyAug. 24, 1961 UNIT-ED STATES/PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTIONPatent No, 3,148,645

September 15, 1964 Shigeo Aiki et a1.

It is hereby certified that error appears in the above numbered patentrequiring correction and that the said Letters Patent should read ascorrectedbelow.

Column 4, line 50, for "ange" read angle column 6, line 5, for "fourth"read third line 6, for "third" read fourth Signed and sealed this 14thday of September 1965.

(SEAL) Attest:

ERNEST W. SWIDER EDWARD J. BRENNER Attesting Officer Commissioner ofPatents

1. A BUTTON HOLE DEVICE FOR A ZIGZAG SEWING MACHINE HAVING A FRAME ANDMAIN SHAFT JOURNALED IN SAID FRAME, COMPRISING A SHAFT SECURED TO SAIDFRAME, A RATCHET WHEEL ROTATABLY MOUNTED ON SAID SHAFT AND HAVING APLURALITY OF DEEP NOTCHES AND A PLURALITY OF SHALLOW NOTCHES, A RECESSEDDISK DISPOSED ADJACENT TO SAID RATCHET WHEEL ON SAID SHAFT AND HAVING APORTION OF LARGER PERIPHERY THAN SAID RATCHET WHEEL AND HAVING AT LEASTTWO SETS OF SHALLOW RECESSES AND DEEP NOTCHES, A RATCHET PAWL OSCILLABLYMOUNTED IN SAID FRAME ENGAGING BOTH SAID RATCHET WHEEL AND SAID DISK,MANUALLY OPERABLE MEANS CONNECTED WITH SAID DISK FOR ROTATING THELATTER, UNITARY CONTROL MEANS ON SAID SHAFT INTEGRALLY CONNECTED WITHSAID DISK FOR RO-